Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 14) — Some senators called for an increase in the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ), as they raised issues of human trafficking and POGO-related crimes during the over two-hour plenary deliberation on the agency’s funding on Tuesday.
In his manifestation, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said he wants to increase the budget of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Enforcement Group to ₱147 million.
\”This is to enable them to continue their work in rescuing human trafficking victims, as well as investigating and curbing online sexual abuse of our minors,\” Gatchalian said.
He disclosed that while the group was allocated ₱76 million under the budget department’s 2024 National Expenditure Program, the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) and the Senate’s committee report slashed it by ₱10 million.
The senator said for 2023, there were about 4,038 rescued victims of human trafficking, connected to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
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\”My fear is syndicates will transition from trafficking foreign individuals to trafficking our local kababayans,\” he added.
Sen. Joel Villanueva also took the floor to express support if the DOJ would request an increase in funding for an inter-agency task force working to curb POGO-related crimes.
The inter-agency task force, which the DOJ is a part of, was formed in 2019 to monitor the number of foreign nationals employed in POGOs, Villanueva said.
\”Given the rise of POGO-related crimes, we hope this inter-agency task force is continuing to do its work,\” he added.
\”Maybe the DOJ can also make a recommendation, paulit-ulit na lang po ito,\” Gatchalian also said. \”No such thing as legal or illegal kasi ‘yong nahuhuli mga legal pa, eh.\”
[Translation: Maybe the DOJ can also make a recommendation because it has become a cycle. There is no such thing as legal or illegal because firms that have been caught were legal.]
Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and DOJ budget sponsor, assured his colleagues their recommendation would be discussed \”at the proper time,\” or during the period of amendments.
According to the Senate panel’s report, the DOJ was allocated ₱35.455 billion for 2024. It was ₱1 billion higher than the amount lodged in the 2024 GAB, which was the version of the House of the Representatives.
Other requests, issues raised during deliberations
Sen. Raffy Tulfo also sought to raise the budget of some programs of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which are both under the DOJ.
He argued that the Senate \”failed to properly fund\” NBI’s budget request for the training of new agents, only granting ₱8 million out of the ₱290 million appeal.
Tulfo also asked for additional funding for BuCor to procure more CCTVs in detention facilities, hire more personnel, and raise the meal budget of inmates.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa also reiterated his suggestion to build a mess hall outside the Bilibid maximum compound.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, during his interpellation, mentioned that the Office of the Solicitor General told the chamber’s budget hearing that it is willing to waive its confidential fund request.
\”If that’s the case, we welcome a motion,\” Angara replied.
